Corn-planter.



L. E. FAGAN.

coma PLANTEB. mwucmou FILED ocT. 30.11916.

Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l- Invent/Z0? (a. 2

L. E. FAGAN.

CORN PLANTER. APPLICATION FILED on. 30. 1916.

1 241 ;5@& Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L. E. FAGAN. v

CORN PLANTER. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30. I916.

1,241,502., ratented 'Oct. 2,1917.

6 SHEET$-SHEET 3.

L. E. FAGAN.

CORN PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED OC' I'. 30. I916.

13%,502. Patented Oct. 2,1917. v

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

L. E. FAGAN.

CORN PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. so. 1916.

Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

nnrrnn srrarns earner errrcn.

LEWIS E. FAGAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

coRN-rLANrEn.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Lnwrs E. FAGAN, a citizenof the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented certain new'and useful Improvements inCorn-Planters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to planters, and more particularly tothe mechanism for separating, selecting and discharging or droppingkernels of grain, such as corn, cotton, beans or the like, which it "isdesired to plant. v

One of the primary objects of my present invention is to provide aplanter which will select and drop seeds or kernels irrespective oftheir size and shape with maximum accuracy;

With this general aim in view I have devised a mechanism comprising aseparator or selector of novel construction which separates the kernelsfrom'each other as they leave the hopper, a transferrer to whichtheseparated kernels are deliveredsingly. from the separator, anaccumulator provided with cells into each of which a single kernel isdelivered by the transferrer, and mechanism for discharging from theaccumulator a predetermined number of kernels at each actuation of themechanism.v In connection with this mechanism I have also provided meansfor automatically returning to the hopper those kernels which aredelivered by the transferrer to the accumulator in ex cess of the numberwhich, it is desirable to drop at each operation, and I have alsoprovided mechanism designed to be used only when the planter is employedfor drilling which retains the'kernels discharged from the accumulatorand releases them successively in predetermined timed relation to eachother so that they will be deposited in the ground in the proper spacedrelation.

For the purpose of facilitating anunderstanding of my invention I haveillustrated on the accompanying drawings one preferred embodimentthereof, from a consideration of which when taken in connection with thefollowing description, my invention and many of its inherent advantagesshould be readily understood. Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved mechanism, the seed hopper, beingomitted to more clearly show the underlying mechanism;

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented 0ct.2, 1917.

Application filed. October 30, 1916. Serial No. 128,392.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the llne 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line etl of Fig. 2, certainparts being broken away to show the underlying elements;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of theseparator plate and the driving. mechanism therefor Fig. 6 is afragmentary view partially in section showing the mechanism employed fordrilling purposes;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, reference character 11 designates generallythe base or supporting portion upon which the various mechanismsembodied in my invention are carried. This base may be mounted in anyconvenient manner upon the frame of the planter, one standard 12 beingshown, the bottom or foot of which may be'bolted to the frame. This baseand the mechanism carried thereby is disposed on the frame immediatelybeneath the usual hopper 13 which may be of well known or preferredconstruction, and preferably equipped with a cut-off valve 14 of anysuitable type. As shown in the present instance the hopper is supportedupon and carried by four posts or uprights 15 integrally connectedtogether by a spiral member 16, which will be described more in detailhereinafter, .and. mounted at their lower endsupon the base 11 to whichthey are secured by bolts or screws 17 passing through the outwardlyextending feet 18.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be observedthat a vertically disposed shaft'19 is journaled'near its lower is wellunderstood in the art. The shaft 19 carries at its upper end a hopperplate or vided with a cell in the form of an aper-- ture 25 adapted toreceive and accommo disk 24 which forms the bottom of the hopper andupon which the kernels in the hopper rest. Near its center this plate ispro.-

date a plurality of the largest sized kernels, which enter therein fromthe hopper. It will be noted that the hopper plate is positionedimmediately above the spiral member 16 which has a top web 26 upon whichthe kernels in the cell 25 rest during the greater part of eachrevolution of the plate.

I passage 31 into which the kernels are dropped near the axis of thespiral through the aperture 27, as previously explained. The kernels,when deposited in this passage,

' rest upon'a plate 32 which, in the form of the inventionshown on thedrawings, has a substantially fiat upper face, although I have foundthat a conical plate is very satisfactory for the purpose. The upperface of the plate, whether fiat or conical, is provided with grooves 33preferably tapering in depth from their inner to their outer ends,assho'wn. The lower face of the plate 32 .is provided nearits peripherywith a downwardly projecting flange 34 equipped with teeth 35 to form aninternal gear. A web. 36 extending across the upper end of the base 11,as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, cars ries'apinion '37'which meshes with theinternal gear 35 and also meshes with and is driven by an idler pinion38 which in turn is driven by. agear 39 fixed on the shaft 19, all asbest shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

At this point I desire to direct attention to the fact that the spiralribs or walls 28 and 29, forming the spiral passage 31, are in the formof parallel involute curves the inner of which terminates inwardly ofbut adjacent to one edge of the plate 32, while the outer one extendsoutside the periphery ofthe plate 32, as shown in Fig. 1. The passage 31accordingly extends from substan-v tially the center of the disk 32 to apoint at one side of the plate where the end of the passage is disposedpartially over and partially outside the plate. Thelgrooves 33 formed onthe upper surface of the plate 32 have their longitudinal axes disposedon a tangent to the base of the involute curve on which the rib 28 isformed; consequently,

. the longitudinal axes of the grooves are at all times perpendicular tothe rib 28. It will be obvioustherefore that the kernels which 1 aredelivered into the passage 31 upon the plate near the center thereof,will, as'the plate 32 is rotated. in a counter-clockwise direction,viewing Fig. 1, be forced by the rib 28 outwardly toward the peripheryof. the grooves 32 longitudinally of the plate 33 without any tendencyto move from one groove to another. construction thekernels which aredelivered to the center of the plate 32 are moved toward the peripheryof the plate by the involute rib 28, each along !its individual grooveso that when the kernels have approached the periphery of the plate theyare separatedfrom each other by a plurality of grooves. In order tofacilitate the smooth travel of the kernels toward the periphery of thedisk and to prevent hopping or jumping of the kernels as the result ofjars or jolts incident to the travel of the machine over the ground Iprefer to incline the outer face of the rib 28 as indicated by ref.-erence character 41, so that this face partially overhangs the kernelsas they are forced. outwardly on the plate. It will be noted from Fig. 1thatth'e passage 31, as previously explained, extends at its outer endpartiallyoutside of the periphery of the plate 32, and this portion ofthe passage outside the plateis provided with a bottom wall 42 which isinclined downwardly toward the plate, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, andisdisposed partially above the plate so that the larger kernels. whichmight have a tendency to slide off the periphery of the plate before theend of the passage .31 is reached, will be urged by this inclined bottomwall into the ends ofthe grooves 33 by which they are carried along tothe end of the passage 31 asthe plate revolves. The end of the rib29beyond the extremity of the bottom wall 42 is turned inwardly asindicated at 43 so as to forma vertical passageway downwardly, throughwhich the kernels will drop as they are brought in succession therevolving plate'into register with this passage. In order to assist inpushing the kernels, particularly the smaller ones,o1'f from the plate32, when they have reached theend of the rib 28, I have provided atoothed wheel 44 mounted on a shaft 45 journaled in a spider46 andcarrying at its upper end a similar gear 47 driven through theintermediary of an idler 48 from a spur gear 49 formed on the hub of thehopper plate 24. This gear 44ro tates in a counter-clockwise direction,viewing Fig. 1, and serves to facilitate the deliv- As the result ofthis cry of the kernels from the plate into the vertical passagethroughwhich they are decular plate or member 51 fixed to the vertical shaft 19just above the base lland provided adjacent its periphery with marginalupstanding walls or partitions 52 ar-' ranged radially around the plateso as to divide the plate into a plurality, in the present instance 16,of pockets 53, the outer walls of which are formed by the circularcasing 54 of the base member 11. Each of these pockets travels insuccession, as the member 51 is rotated by the shaft 19, beneath thepassage 55 (Fig. 3.) throughwhich the kernels are delivered from thegroove plate 32. Each pocket is equipped with a kernel detector in theform of a finger or block56 slidingly mounted upon the member 51 andhaving an inwardly extending guide rod 57 which projects through asuitable guide opening in the vertical flange 58 of a cupshaped memberwhich is secured by screws 59 or other suitable means to the member 51,as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 7. Each detector is normally urgedoutwardly radially of the'member 51 into the position shown at the rightin Fig. 3, and also in Fig. 7, by a coiled expansion spring 60surrounding the guide rod 57 and interposed between the flange 58 andthe rear face of the detector finger proper.

The circular web 36, upon which the driving pinions for the groove plate,32 are mounted, as previously explained, is provided with an annulardownwardly. projecting wall 61 which forms the rear walls of the pocketsabove the detectors 56, and this wall'is equipped with an inwardlyextending cam flange 62, the contour of which is best shown in Fig. 4.Upon the inner end.

of the top portion 63 of each detector there is mounted an antifrictionroller 64 which is normally urged into engagement with the cam face ofthe flange 62 by the spring 59, above explained. It will be obvious fromFig. 4 that as the conveyer plate, carrying with it the detectors, isrevolved, the detectors will bealternatel'y drawn inwardly from thepockets 53 by the cam 62, and as the rollers 64 ride off the endof thecam the detectors will be projected radially outwardly into theirrespective pockets by the springs 59, aided by centrifugal force.

The kernels are delivered from the plate 32 through the passage 55 intothe pockets of the conveyer at approximately the point marked D in Fig.4, at which point the detector is withdrawn from the pocket. As theconveyer plate rotates in a counterclockwise direction, viewing Fig.4,so that the roller 64 travels olf'of the cam 62, the detector will beforced'outwardly into the pocket as previously explained, but if akernel has been deposited in the pocket the detector will contacttherewith and be prerented by the kernel from reaching the outward limitof its travel. In other words, a kernel disposed in the. pocket would beengaged between the outer face of the detector 56 and the inner face ofthe wall 54,. and the outward movement'of the detectorwill beaccordingly limited by the size of the kernel. It will be understood atthis point that the relative speed of the groove plate 32 and theconveyer 51 are such that only one kernel will be delivered by the plate32 to any pocket of the conveyer; consequently, no conveyer pocket willever contain more than one kernel and in actual practice many of theconveyer pockets will pass the delivery passage 55 without receiving anykernel.

It will be observed from Figs. 2, 3 and 7 that the conveyer plate 51 isprovided with a slot 65 extending radially inwardly from each pocket;and that the lower portion of each detector is equipped with adownwardly extending tooth 66 which projects through its respective slotand is slidable longitudinally of said slot upon radial movement of thedetector. The position of each tooth 66 radially of the conveyer plate51, which is determined by the presence or absence of a kernel in thepocket in which the respective detector operates, controls the operationof the accumulator to which the kernels are delivered from the pockets,which accumulator and its operating mech anism will now be described.

This accumulator consists of a circular housing or shell 67 surroundingthe vertical body Wall 54ofthe base 11 and outside of the conveyer. Astationary bottom 68, consisting of a radially projecting flange formedon the base 11, supports the accumulators throughout substantiallyone-half of its circumference. The accumulator shell is also provided,as shown in Fig. 1, with a series of inwardly extending walls orpartitions 69, which divide the shell into a series of compartments, inthe present instance 16, corresponding in number to the number ofconveyer pockets. At one side the casing wall 54 is provided with a portor discharge opening 71, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, through whichcommunication is afforded between the conveyer pockets and theaccumulator chamber. Upon the periphery of the accumulator shell thereis provided a radially extending flange 72 equipped on its lower facewith gear teeth v73 which mesh with the teeth of a gear wheel 74 (Fig.7) mounted upon an inclined shaft 75, journaled in a suitable bracket76, formed on the base 11, this shaft being equipped at its inner endwith a bevel; ratchet Wh-eel 77 disposed beneath 'and in proximity tothe path of travel of the radial slot 65 in the conveyer plate 51.

The accumulator normally remains stationary with one of its chambers inregistration with the port 71, as shown in Fig. 4. Assuming that theconveyer is rotatingand I that one of the pockets'con'taining no kernelall passes over the shaft 75, the pocket being empty the detector will,be in 11 rojectedposition, as shown in Fig. 7, and the tooth 66 willpass outside of the bevel ratchet wheel 77 without actuating thesame, asshown in full lines in Fig. 7., If, however, a kernel is disposed in theconveyer pocket the detector will be held thereby in partially retractedposition as indicatedin dotted lines in Fig.7

and the tooth 66.will aline and engage with theuppermost tooth on thewheel 77 so as to impart a partial rotation to theshaft 7 5v as thetooth 66 passes the wheel 77 upon. rotation of the conveyer plate 51.This actuation of the shaft will, through the gear Wheel 74, partiallyrotate the accumulator shell 67 so as to. bring thesucceedi-ngaccumulatorchamber into register with the port 71, through .which thekernel will be ejected into the chamberfrom the conveyer pocket by thedetector when the pocket is brought intoregister with the port. Theproportions of the gear wheel 74 and the bevel ratchet wheel 77 are suchthat the accumulatorfv chambers are presented successively into registerwith the port 71 upon successive actuations of the shaft 75 by the tooth66.

From Figs. 2 and 4 it will be observed that an arcuate plate. 78 carriedby an arm 7 9, the hub 81 of which is rotatably mounted concentricallywith the shaft 19, forms the bottom offour accumulator chambers,counting in a counter-clockwise direction from the port, 71, viewingFig. 1. As the kernels are discharged-from. the conveyor pockets intothe accumulator chambers, one kernel being depositedin each succeedingchamber, as previously explained, these kernels are retained in'thepockets by the plate'7S until fourkernels in corresponding pockets havebeen, accumulated on the plate 7 8. By m0vement'of this platein aclockwise direction, viewing .Fig. 4, about the shaft 19 as a center,the plate is. withdrawn practically si Inultaneously from beneath one ormore of these four-pockets, depending upon the extent of; movement ofthe plate, thereby permitting the kernels resting onthe plate to dropinto a receiver or into the boot of the planter, which is disposedbeneath these chambers.

- Referring now to the mechanism for actuating the plate 78 to effectthe discharge of'the, accumulated kernels it will be observed from Fig.4 thatthe arm 7 9 is con, nected by a'link 82 with the end of an arm orlever 83 fixed upon the lower end of a rock shaft 84 journaled at oneside of the casing. The upper end'of the shaft 8 1 has fixedly mountedthereon an arm 85, as shown in Fig. 1, the outer end OfWlllCl'l is urgedinto en'gagement with the per phery of the hopper plate24; by acontraction spring 86 attached at one end to the lever and at its'otherto a stationary part of the struc ture such, for instance, as one of thescrews 17. From Fig: 1- it'will also be observed that the hopper plate24L is provided with. a segmental notch orrecess 87 adapted to, ac-.commodate the end of the lever. 85, sothat at each revolution of theplate 2 1 in, a counter-clockwise direction the extremity of the lever85 will enter this recess and swing in a counter-clockwise directionunder the in- -fluence of the spring 86 whenthe recess 2' reaches theposition indicated in. dotted lines in Fig. 1. This movementrof thelever 85 rocks the shaft 84 and. through the lever 83, link 82, and arm.78, swings the plate 7 9 in a clockwise direction from beneath thechambers of the accumulator in which the kernels have been deposited. Ifthe lever 85 is permitted to swing to the full depth of the notch .87the movement will be. suflicient to withdraw the plate 78 from beneathall four of the filled chambers. of the accumulator,

It is frequently desirable to drop less than four kernels in a hlll,three and sometimes two being all that is necessary. To readilyaccommodate my'invention to such requirements I have provided means forlimiting the throw of 'the arm 85 and consequently the length of travelof the plate 78, which consists of a cam 88 mounted'up'on a fixedbearing pin 89' in the path of travel ofthe lever 85. This cam may beadjusted upon its pivot by any suitable mechanism but in the presentinstance I have shown the cam as equipped with an'arm 91' adapted to beconnected with a link, shaft or other mechanism which can be readilyadjusted to any one of three different positions. When the cam is in theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 1 the arm 85 will be permitted toswing to its fullest extent within the recess 87,'thereby withdrawingthe plate 78 from beneath all four chambers. Should it be desirable todroponly three kernels at a time the cam will be swung in acounterclockwise direction so that the lever 91 willassume the dottedline position indicated by B in Fig. 1 to present a higher surface in.the path of the arm 85 which will stop the operative stroke of thearmf85 short of a full stroke so as to withdraw the plate/('8 frombeneaththree chambers only. By adjusting the cam so as to present stilla higher surface in the path of the arm 85 by swinging the lever 91 intothe dotted line position indicated by O in Fig. 1 the movement of theplate 78 may be restricted so as to permit the kernels to be dischargedfrom only two of the chambers. In the operation of'the planter thecheckrow wire-controlled clutch which intermittently actuates the driveshaft 23 is thrown out when the arm 85 enters the recess 87. After theplanter has traveled a predetermined distance the, clutch is then thrownin by the next knot on the checkrow wire and another revolution isimparted to the shaft 19. Upon initial rotative movement of the hopperplate 24 the'edge- 92 of the recess 87 engages the end of the arm 85 andforces the arm outwardly again into the position shown in Fig. 1 whereit re mains in contact with the periphery of the hopper plate until therecess is again brought into register with the arm, where upon thedropping operation previously explained is repeated.

The mechanism thus far describedis so speeded and timed and the cellopening 25 in the hopper plate is so proportioned that at least themaximum number of kernels of the largest size that it is ever desirableto plant in one hill-will be delivered to the accumulator between eachsuccessive dropping operation. When the seed contains kernels of smallersize a'greater number of these small kernels will be delivered from thehopper throughthe cell opening 25; conplate 78 onto the stationary plate68 and will be discharged through an opening in the plate 68 into achute 93 (Figs. 3 and 1)] from which they enter a container 94. From thecontainer the surplus kernels are returned to the hopper by any suitableelevating mechanism, an endless chain conveyer 95 provided with one ormore buckets 96 being shown in the present instance for purposes ofillustration, the lower end of the conveyer being trained over a spocketwheel 97 mounted upon the shaft 23. The upper end of the conveyer andthe top of the hop per through which the surplus kernels are returnedtothe hopper are not shown on the drawings. v

In order that the planter may be adapted for drilling; that is, droppingthe kernels singly at predetermined distances apart, I have providedmechanism which is arranged beneath the accumulator to receive thekernels dropped thereby and then discharge them singly in succession.Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 6, it will be observed that theupper portion of the boot, which is designated generally by referencecharacter 98, is curved transversely to correspond to the curvature ofthe accumulator and discharge plate 7 8, and is also provided with aplurality of partitions 99 which divide the boot into four channels orcompartments alining with the overlying compartments of the accumulator.The lower end of each channel or compartment of the boot is normallyclosed by a flat valve 101 pivoted at 102 and normally held in closedposition as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 by a contractile spring 103attached atone end to the arm 104 of the valve and at its other end to astud or pin 105. Infront of the boot there is rotatably mounted in apair of bracket arms 106 a rotary shaft 107 which is continuously drivenwhen the planter is drilling from the main drive shaft through anysuitthere are mounted four fingers or tappets I 108 arranged upon theshaft so as to engage with the arms 104- of the valve 101 in successionat each revolution of .the shaft 107. Each finger 108 is preferably setat an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the next adjacent finger sothat the valves 101 are opened in succession at regular intervals. Aftereach valve has been opened by its finger from thefull line position tothe dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 it is closed again after thekernel has dropped down into the boot, by the spring 108.Beneath'thevalves 101 the boot is gradually contracted into onerelatively small channel through which the kernels are delivered in 107should be so timed in its operation that it will make one completerevolution at each actuation of the accumulator plate 78 and the fingers108 should be so positioned that all of the valves 101 will be closed soas to catch the kernels as they are discharged from the accumulator.

This drilling mechanism is designed to be a permanent part of themachine, but in order that it may not interfere with the hill dropmechanism previously explained I have provided means for rendering-thedrilling mechanism inoperative when the planter is used for hill droppurposes. I have there fore mounted upon the front wall of the boot aplate or bar 109 arranged for'vertical movement in suitable guideways111. A

rock shaft 112 journaled in the brackets 106v tating the shaft 112 in aclockwise direction. viewing Fig. 2 the bar 109 will be elevated shaft112 is rocked to elevate the bar 109- and upon reverse rotation of theshaft the bar will be lowered into the position shown inFig. 2. This bar109 carries beneath each of, the valves 101 an upwardly projectingfinger 115 disposed in alinement with the valve arm 104. Whenthe-apparatus is used for drilling" purposes the bar 109 with itsfingers is lowered into the position shown in Fig. 2 so that the valvemay be permitted to close under the actuation of their springs 103. Themechanism will now operate to drill the kernels, as has been previouslydescribed, In order to throw the. drilling mechanism out of operationand permit the planter to operate as a hill drop planter the thereby,through the fingers 115, swinging each of-the valves 101 into the openposition shown indotted lines in Fig. 2. In, this position'obviously theapertures do not intercept the kernels butpermit them to drop from theaccumulator directly into the lower portion of the boot.

It is believed that my invention in one of its preferred embodiments andits mode of operation will be readily understood from the foregoing. Itshould be obvious that my novel separator including the groove plate andthe cooperating spiral effectually separates the kernels one fromanother and delivers them singly into the pockets of the transferrer. Asthe transferrer revolves each a simple adjustment of the cam, which -de.

termines the length of the opening movementofthe plate 78., The surpluskernels which accumulate in the accumulator are automatically returnedto the hopper so that only [the desired number of kernels are planted.The mechanism is so arranged and constructed that a predetermined numberof kernels are released from the accumulator at'each actuation of theplate 78, and these may be dropped simultaneously for hill planting, orthe drilling mechanism may be employed when desirable, for interceptingthe kernels released from the accumulator and subsequently discharging,them singly. at predetermined intervals to be delivered from the boot.

While I have shown and described that embodiment of my invention whichat present seems preferable, nevertheless it should be understood thatthe various structural features shown and described are capable ofconsiderable modification and variation without departing from theessence of theinvention as defined in the following claims.

I claim: I

.1. In a planter, the combination of a hop per, means for deliveringkernels from the ho 3 )er means for se aratm the kernels del vered fromthe hopper lrrespective of the size and shape of said kernels, and meansfor intermittently discharging a predetermined number of said separatedkernels.

2. In aplanter, thecombination of a hopper, means for delivering seedkernels therefrom, means outside the hopperfor posi tively separatingthe seed kernels one from another irrespective of the size and shape ofsaid kernels, an accumulator adapted'to receive said separated kernels,and means for intermittently discharging a predetermined number of saidseparated kernels from said accumulator. v I

3. In a planter, the comb natlon of an accumulator provided wlth aseries of compartments, means for separating anddelivermg one kernel ofseed to each of sa1d com-,

partments in succession, and means for dis charging the kernels from apredetermined number of sa1d compartments simultaneously.

4. In a planter, the combination of an accumulator provided with aseriesof seed compartments, a hopper adapted to, contain the seed, meansfor removing seed from said means for discharging a predeterminednumber; of kernels from said accumulator, and

means for returning the surplus kernels from the accumulator tosaidhopper.

5. In a planter, the combination of-a seed-r hopper anddepos1t1ngonekernel thereof 1n each of sa1d compartments in succession,

containing hopper, an accumulator comp rismg a series of compartments,means for removing a plurality of'seed kernels from the hopper, meansfor separating said removed kernels one from another and depositing themsingly in successive compartments of sa1d accumulator, means forsimultaneously discharging a predetermined number of saidkernels fromsaid compartments, means whereby the number of kernels sodischarged Imay be varied at will, and means for'returning the surplus kernels fromsaid" accumu-.

later to the hopper. 3

6. In a planter, the combination of hopper, 'means for intermittentlyremoving a plurality of kernels of seed] from said.

hopper, means including a stationary member and a rotatable member for,separating said kernels from each other, and means whereby apredetermined number [o-f said separated kernels are dischargedirrespective ofsize .and shape 'simultaneously from the planter.

- livering the same one at a time.

7. In a planter, the combination of a hopper, means for intermittentlyremoving a plurality of seed kernels from said hopper, and means forseparating said kernels from each other irrespective of size and shapeand distributing the same singly to individual.

and means including a spiral member, and

a grooved member, for separating said kernels lrrespective oi size andshape, and de- 9. In a. planter, the combination ofa hopper, means forintermittently removing a. plurality of seed kernels. from said hopper,and means including a rotatable grooved member and a stationary spiralmember cooperating therewith for separating said kernels from each otherirrespective of size and shape.

10. In a planter, the combination of a hopper means for intermittentlydelivering a plurality of seed kernels from said hopper, a memberprovided with an involute spiral passage into which said kernels aredelivered, a rotatable member provided with grooves disposed normally tothe axis of said involute passage, and means for rotating said member tothereby separate the kernels from each other and cause the same to bedelivered one at a time to the periphery of said rotatable member.

11. In a planter, the combination of a hopper, a member disposed beneathsaid hopper provided with an involute spiral rib, means forintermittently delivering a plu rality of seed kernels from said hopperto a point near the base of said rib, and a rotatable plate providedwith grooves disposed perpendicular to said rib, said grooves beingadapted to cooperate with said rib to separate said kernels and move thesame in separated relation toward the periphery of said plate.

12. In a planter, the combination of a conveyer provided with a seriesof seed pockets, means for delivering kernels of seed to said pockets,an accumulator, and means governed by the presence or absence of a seedkernel in said pockets for actuating said accumulator.

13. In a planter, the combination of a series of movable seed pockets,means for delivering kernels of seed thereto, seedreceiving means, andvmechanism rendered operable only by the presence of a seed kernel in apocket for actuating said seed-receiving means.

14. In a planter, the combination of a rotatable'member providedadjacent its periphery with a series of pockets, means for deliveringseed kernels one at a time to said pockets, and means for automaticallydetecting the presence or absence of a seed kernel in each pocket.

15. In a planter, the combination of a rotatable conveyer memberprovided adjacent its periphery with a series of seed pockets, means fordeliveringnotimore than one seed kernel to a seed pocket at one point inits travel, mechanism for detecting the presence or absence of a seedkernel in each pocket, and a movable accumulator adapted to be actuatedby said mechanism as each pocket that contains a :seed kernel passes agiven point. 7 I

.16. In a planter, the combination of a rotatable conveyer provided witha series of pockets, means for deliveringseed, kernels to said pockets,means for receiving said kernels from the pockets, detector mechanismfor determining the presence or absence of a seed kernel ineach pocket,and mechanism controlled by said detector mechanism for operating saidseed-receiving means.

17. In a planter, the combination of a r0- tatable conveyer providedwith a series of pockets, a rotatable accumulator provided with a seriesof compartments, means for delivering seed kernels to said pockets, andmechanism rendered operative only by the presence of a seed kernel in apocketfor presenting an empty compartment, in position to receive akernel from each loaded pocket, said mechanism being unaffected by emptypockets on the conveyer.

18. In a planter, the combination of an accumulator comprising a seriesof compartments, means for delivering a single seed kernel to each ofsaid compartments in succession, means controlled by the approach of aseed kernel for presenting an empty compartment in position to receivesaid kernel, a plate forming the bottoms of a plurality of saidcompartments throughout a portion of their travel, and means forwithdrawing said plate from beneath a predetermined number of saidcompartments to permit the simultaneous discharge of the seed kernelstherefrom.

19. In a planter, the combination of a rotatable accumulator providedwith a series of compartments, a rotatable conveyer provided with aseries of pockets and having one point of communication with saidaccumulator, means for delivering seed kernels singly to individualpockets, means whereby said accumulator is actuated to present the emptycompartments successively in position to receive the seed kernels asthey are delivered from said pockets, and means for simultaneouslydischarging a predetermined number of said kernels simultaneously fromsaid accumulator.

20. In a planter, the combination of an accumulator havlng a series ofcomparttom for a plurality of said compartments throughout a portion oftheir travel, means for intermittently Withdrawing said plate frombeneath one or more of said compartments, and adjustable means fordetermining' the extent of movement of said plate.

21. In a planter, the combination of a plurality of passages, devicesnormally closing each of said passages, means for simultaneouslydepositing a single seed kernel in each of said passages, and means forautomatically actuating said devices so as to discharge said kernels inpredetermined timed sequence.

22. In a planter, the combination of a plurality of passages, a valvenormally closing each passage, means for simultaneously delivering toeach of said passages a single Copies of this patent may be obtained forseed kernel, and mechanism for opening said, valves 1n predeterminedtimed relation to permit the discharge of seedkernels from a separatorfor separating saidseed kernels and delivering the same singly to saidpockets, an accumulator provided with a series of chambers, meanscontrolled by kernels in said pockets for presenting the emptycompartments of said accumulator in succession for the reception of thekernels from said pockets, means for simultaneously discharging apredetermined number of kernels from said accumulator, and means fordelivering said discharged kernels in predetermined timed sequence fromthe planter.

LEWIS E. FAGAN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington,I). 0.

